07/08/09

Great historic house, staff, and events!

by tjdny

This bit of history is presented well for the modern audience! The house is under constant care and restoration, and the governing board makes an effort to keep the community involved, interested and coming back by offering "behind the scenes" viewings, historic recreations, and great holiday events.

Check out the website at merchantshouse (dot) org, for a listing of coming events, things that make big ol' NYC feel like the small town it once was.

Unique, engaging, historic, and worth return trips for fun events!

• Pros: staff, furnishings, detail, and cool events year-round!
• Cons: a little dark inside, but true to the period

11/01/07

fabulous!

by prettyprettyprincess85

i LOVE this stuff. went on a ghost tour here last week and loved it so much that i went back for the ghost stories last night (halloween). this place is awesome...highly recommended for history buffs and...anyone looking for an educational scare, really. i'm a history girl but my friends arn't and they were completely into it too. totally eerie...not fake like those other crappy haunted houses (trust me, i've seen it all). this is the real thing...and they have some great stories to prove it. no bs. everyone was so nice, i can't wait to visit again during the day.

10/28/06

"Haunted Tour" interesting historical event

by trulyobjective

Went to the candlelight haunted tour on Friday night. It was a dark and stormy night, perfect for touring a truly haunted house. A bit dissapointed that we were led by flashlights and not actual candellabras (I'm guessing because of fire codes), but there were candles in the actual recreated spaces. The scenes eloquently recreated 19th century living. The tour guide would offer accounts of ghost sightings in the building, but his delivery was very didactic - not spooky or dreary (and our tour group seemed to be ready for a scare). The actors were convincing but the scenes were a little questionable, I would've liked to have learned more about 19th century mourning rituals, etc..

Overall, it was an interesting museum visit with a haunted tinge. Far from the typical maze with chainsaw crazies and clowns.

• Pros: Historical lesson, different halloween experience
• Cons: Tour guide could've been creepier